Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-08-12
Southern Maryland MARI.

There is known to be heavy sub stratum
of mari underlying the greater portion
of our lands in Charles county, which
outcrops On the surface in many places
and is generally encountered by well dig
gers in their operations. The chemical ma
ture of these deposits and their availability
as fertilizers have never been fully settled,
either by experiment or analysis; but the
TINES has more than once directed atten-
tion to the matter and suggested the i'm
portance of more CAREFUL experiments
and analyses in that direction. As the
mari deposits of Prince Georges and
Charles are no doubt identical in their
composition, the following account from
the Baltimore Sun of the recent investiga-
tions of q scientific man from Washington
in our sister county may throw some light
on the subject:
Senator Evarts is thought to have made
an excellent investment when he purchas
ed number of Maryland's broad acres IN
liuSC oCOlSCs SOuutN. ~ tduSDhSS
that his recent acquisition is in the heart
of section rich in mari deposits. Prof
Cook, of the Howard University, has just
returned from q visit to the farms along
Piscataway creek, where he was sent by
geological survey to establish the lines of
the green sand beds which also abouod
that section. The professor speaks en-
Enthusiastically of the result of his re-
searches. He found green sand in large
quantities at the Hodges farm. which is
situated about two miles north of Marl-
borough. "The most interesting discov-
cry l made, however," said be, twas the
presence of extensive mari deposits cover
ing the territory from Marlborough down
to Fort Washington, in northeast south
west direction, and as far west, running
in same direction, IS Fort Foote. found
this rich fertilizer in great quantities on
the farms of Daniel r. Dyer, Benson
Townsend and James Murray, at Thrift,
and on the elliott. Hatten aud Cole farms,
and on the Fort Washinton government
reservation along Piscataway creek. On
the Dyer farm it crops right out on the
surface. so that no effort to fertilize the soil
is required. The farmer simply plows
through rich mari, and his crops are of the
most healthy kind. On the elliott farm
it also lies on the surface in great
quantities and extends to a great depth.
Of course the quality ofthe mari in this
section can only be ascertained by scien-
tific analysis. / brought number Of sam
pies to the city with nae, and they are
How being subjected to an analysis by
Prof. Clark, of the survey. If it should
prove to be good for fertilizing purposes,
it exists in such quantities that it will be
profitable to work it and place it on the
market. The locality is within easy reach
Of the waterway, and IN fact nature has
given every facility for distributing this
soil rejuvenator among the exhausted farms
OF the country. From my observation /
should say that the mari in Prince Georges
county is OF the proper kind for fertiliz-
ing purposes. 1t seems to contain a
large percentage of carbonate of lime aud
phosphorus, hich are the liyening proper.
ties of fertilizers. The mari beds of Mary
land will rival those of New Jersey, which
have proved source of wealth to the in
habitants of that State. and made her farms
the garden spots of the country. The
Maryland mari beds have one advantage
over those OF New Jersey. The deposit
in Prince Georges county is on the sur
face, and will therefore not require min
ing, as is the case in New Jersey / did
not search very carefully for mari on Sen
ator Evarts place, but have no doubt that
it exists there but under the soil. / shall
give his farm more careful survey when
l return to continue my researches. !
will go back tomorrow, / think, and
push my way Dorthward as far as Bowie
l do not wish to forget the large deposit
OF shells in state of disintegration which
| found among mari, showing that it is
doubtless of good quality. 1 found sharks,
teeth, bones and shells Of all descrip-
tions."